Stephen Whitehead, Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, Sevenoaks District Council reported on SDC structure, action and outcomes and Planning Enforcement Plan and relevance to rural communities. He has attended ~10 Parish Council meetings, supplied his mobile number and advised that SDC has the biggest enforcement caseload in Kent. Enforcement can be a civil (e.g. beds in sheds, caravans, permitted development) or criminal matter (e.g. listed buildings, Tree Preservation orders, advertising). He has a team of 2 officers, himself (contracted till 02.20) and admin support. Historically has been under resourced and sadly reactive. Aims to have 30 top priority cases, currently has 52 and working on improved communication and use of software.

They have to give applicant the chance to “regularise the breach”. Are working with MP’s to try to change the law. A number of local cases were discussed. The Council thanked SW for his time and efforts.

The Council resolved to write to Richard Morris, Head of Planning SDC, cc in Chief Exec to encourage resources to enforcement team for tax payers’ visible outcome, noting the proportionate impact of breaches to parishes such as rural Hever. Clerk to share draft with SS.

5i. Payments and receipts since last meeting, bank reconciliation and verification by member of FEC.

5ii. 2020 – 2021 budget. The Chair reported from Finance and employment committee (FEC) (JH, JW, CC, AH) meeting, feedback from resident leaflet drop relating to next year spending and 2019 – 2020 budget plans and options. JH declared an interest as on the Parochial Church Council. Grant allocation considered, in detail relating to village hall funding (section 133, LGA 1972) and the benefit of supporting Churches which contribute to a wide public benefit (LGA 1972). Proposals as per the Agenda were discussed, for the end of this financial year (31.03.20) and for 2020 – 2021 financial year.

For the remainder of this financial year, the following allocations to be made;

1. To be ring-fenced and held by HPC from grant budget for possible future Hever village hall rebuild, subject to further consideration at Council meeting / full application. It was requested that the Clerk summarise the history of grant giving for comparison by next meeting. £5,000

Landowner negotiations would be the responsibility of English rural. A period of full and comprehensive public consultations would take place before HPC consider whether to formally support the project. Only after this time, could any planning application be considered.

Following this initial feedback from SDC, this item will be considered at the next Council meeting on 21st January 2020, following a meeting on 12th December between the HPC working party (Clerk, SS, CT) and English Rural Housing association.

SS wished to have it minuted that the 9-month delay by SDC planning with their modest involvement to date has effectively sterilised this project in an unacceptable way.

7.Gatwick update – SL was unable to attend the recent meeting in Penshurst but will update at next meeting re; GON.

8. BW had met with organiser of the Football holiday camp in Four Elms, had feedback from the Head of the school – all positive and recommended that the Council continued to support. The Council resolved to support this and the Clerk to feedback and obtain information on future dates.

• Family Fun days – Summer 2019 – funded by SDC and HPC. 16 children attended the

Markbeech session (31st July) and 63 in Hever (12th August).

• Kent County Council – Highways; the new steward for the Southern Parishes of Sevenoaks District

is Amy Jeffery. Clerk will be attending the parish seminar on 20th November in Tunbridge Wells.

• Church – “Many thanks for your letter from Hever Parish Council. We are extremely grateful for the

support of the Council over the issue of these dreadful thefts. It is so sad that we do not feel that we can safely leave our churches open for people to stop and enjoy their beauty and serenity. We met with PC Cain who has given us some good advice about how we can best deter thefts in the future….” Kind regards Nicola Talbot Churchwarden, Holy Trinity Markbeech

• Kent Police – PC Hubbard will be based at Sevenoaks and cover the Town, Westerham and

Edenbridge. We are still in the process of establishing our PCSO staffing numbers and will keep you informed of the developments with this.

Last week Kent Police introduced a new website, this is much improved on the last one with more and more features being added. You can now check your local areas which will give you information on recent crimes and trends being experienced as well as having a much improved reporting system. Finally, just a thank a thank you from me while working in the PCSO Supervisor role, I haven’t gone far so should still be working with some of you in the future. Many thanks Pete PS 12068 Pete BALLARD

2020 Parish Council meetings

MONTH DATE DAY LOCATION EVENT

JAN 21 TUES MBVH 6.30pm planning, 7pm Mtg

MARCH 17 TUES HVH Mtg

MAY 5 TUES FEVH Mtg / Agm

MAY 28 THURS HVH Assembly

JULY 14 TUES FEVH Mtg

SEPT 22 TUES HVH Mtg

NOV 26 THURS MBVH Mtg

Planning meeting 7pm, full meeting 7.30pm (unless stated otherwise)

NEXT MEETINGTuesday 21st January Markbeech village hall 6.30pm planning, 7pm Full meeting.